Abstract
The time pattern of flowering significantly affects the pollen season, its beginning, length and the concentration of pollen grains in air. The forecasting models used in aerobiological studies were chiefly based on the elements of weather conditions; however, recently the phenology of pollen shedding has been taken into consideration in these models more and more frequently. The aim of the presented investigations was to determine to what extent the flowering and the occurrence of allergenic pollen grains in air coincided in time. The investigation was carried out in Rzeszów (SE Poland) in the years 2003-2004. The flowering of 19 allergenic plant species was observed and seven phenophases were distinguished. Aerobiological monitoring was based on the volumetric method. In the case of most herbaceous plants, the flowering period overlapped the pollen season, high concentrations of pollen being recorded throughout several phenophases. In general, the pollen of trees occurred during very short periods, frequently during one phenophase, while the investigated phenomena were missing each other. The most intensive growth of inflorescences of alder, hazel and birch was observed at the beginning of full fl owering or towards the end of full flowering.
Highlights
The annual life cycle of plants can be divided into many successive or parallel developmental stages called phenophases
Aerobiological monitoring was based on the volumetric method using a Hirsttype pollen trap (Lanzoni VPPS 2000) set 12 m above the ground level
The period of the greatest number of pollen grains corresponded with phenophases 1-2.9 on average, i.e. pollen occurred in air before the start of flowering in the observed individuals
Summary
The annual life cycle of plants can be divided into many successive or parallel developmental stages called phenophases. Classic phenological observations associated with modern research techniques (e.g., remote sensing, chemical analyses) offer perfect sensitive methods in monitoring environmental changes (Studer et al 2007). The results of such studies are widely used in numerous fields of science (ecology, biometeorology) and implemented in the practice of agriculture, tourism, forestry, and medicine. The studies on flowering phenology help in the interpretation of results of aerobiological investigations and in a more and more precise elaboration of forecasting models of aerobiological processes.
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